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We don’t want your guns, but we all want safe schools and streets. Does guns and assault weapons in the hands of unstable, violent individuals, bent on taken their stress out on society at the point of a gun makes us less safe. We can enhance our public safety by sensible gun safety measures.

Other civilized countries have fewer mass shootings and guns because they have sensible gun laws. Four countries have reduced gun homicides we can learn from United Kingdom, Australia, and Germany. Britain reduced shootings by banning assault weapons and pump-action weapons, required all shotgun owners to register them. There have been no mass shootings in Australia for 20 years. They buyback guns and melt them down. They also register their guns and owners must need to own guns. Japan has a no tolerance policy on guns. Germany requires anyone under 25 who applies for a firearms license must have a psychiatric evaluation with a trained counselor.

We don’t have to tolerate daily mass shootings of students and citizens. Yes, we can make our schools and streets safer. We must consider expanding background checks to gun show and private sales. A better solution may be a requirement that gun owners required to get a firearms license, we need to ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines. We the appropriate laws we can all sleep easier at night.

Feeling helpless? Pick up your phone. Just call a few. It'll make you feel better. Top NRA donation recipients are listed below.

Just call and say "I understand Sen. McCain has accepted $7.7 million from the NRA. I don't know how many thoughts and prayers that buys but I hope he feels good about it. We're watching. Have a GREAT day." And hang up. Dial the next number and repeat.

Every other member of Arizona’s congressional delegation, Democrats and Republicans alike, supported the resolution, which essentially asks Myanmar's government to a) stop killing people and b) allow in humanitarian aid groups.

This obviously brings up an uncomfortable question: Is Andy Biggs saying that he’s okay with ethnic cleansing?

So far, Biggs hasn’t made a public statement one way or the other. We’ve reached out to his office to request an explanation of his vote, and to ask that he clarify whether he condemns the genocide in Myanmar.

The other two members of Congress to vote against the bill, Walter Jones of North Carolina and Thomas Massie of Kentucky, haven't explained their decision, either. Both are Republicans.

Biggs pulled a similar stunt back in September, when he was one of just three members of Congress who voted against a disaster relief bill for victims of Hurricane Harvey. He later explained that he didn’t like the fact that legislation addressing educational programs in developing countries had been tacked onto the bill.

Undoubtedly, adding unrelated provisions to a bill that’s likely to pass is a shady move. But voting against aid for hurricane victims because of your “principled stance” is a bad look, period.

And there aren't any random add-ons to House Concurrent Resolution 90, the bill condemning the ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya. You can read the full text here; it’s pretty straightforward and sticks to the subject at hand.

So what's Biggs' beef, exactly? Was voting against the bill some kind of accidental oversight? Did a staffer fail to properly brief him about the massive human rights crisis in Myanmar, which even Tillerson agrees is extremely bad? Does he have previously-undisclosed ties to the Burmese government? Could this have anything to do with the fact that the Rohingya are Muslim? Or did Biggs simply have a problem with how the resolution was worded?

We have no clue, because his spokesperson isn't answering our phone calls, emails, or Twitter messages. We look forward to updating this story with an explanation when one becomes available.

Ryan Winkle, City Councilmember D3 wrote me an email with the following information.

The CoreCivic contract (private prison industry) with City of Mesa will be discussed in the Mesa City Council Study Session on Thursday May 18th at 7:30 am.

It may go for a vote by Mesa City Council on Monday May 22nd at 5:45 pm.

The Mesa City Council meets at 57 East First Street in Mesa, across the street from the Public Library.

Let's make a show of people to attend both of the meetings. I suggest you wear your Mesa Democrats tee-shirts or a blue/navy shirt. If you wish to speak, be on time and fill out a blue comment card available at the door.

Reps from CoreCivic will be there.

Here is some background info for you from Ryan Winkle:

Friends,

We have recently heard a proposal to privatize the Mesa jail operations. Please read (really read) and watch the following links and let the council know your thoughts. Please keep in mind:

1. People Concerns

2. City Budget Issues

3. Jail vs. Prison (transport, booking and length of stay)

4. Unforeseen Consequences of being the first Az Municipality to do this.

Urgent ACTION Alert -IMMEDIATE Release: December 1, 2016Contact: Kyle Blackhorse, SecretaryArizona Democratic Party Native American Caucus602.832.8399ADPNAC@gmail.comwww.facebook.com/AdpNativeAmericanCaucusPhoenix AZ – Arizona Democratic Party Native American Caucus supports the International Indigenous Solidarity with Standing Rock and URGENTLY call upon the Democratic Party and Officials to join us on Friday, December 2nd for an Action of Solidarity and Public Protest at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Phoenix office.Action of Solidarity and Public Protest information:International Indigenous Solidarity with Standing Rock - Phoenix, AZDate: December 2, 2016 Time: 11am – 1pm Location: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers- 3636 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85012 FB event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1774994052752866/In light of the present crisis situation at Standing Rock, North Dakota the Continental Commission Abya Yala calls upon our allies, friends, and the concerned public at large to join with us in ACTION of SOLIDARITY and PUBLIC PROTEST against the immoral and illegal violent corporate and governmental complicity and collusion engaged in blatant assault upon the Oceti Sakowin Dakota-Nakota-Lakota Nations and the Water Defenders Camp at Standing Rock North Dakota.-End-Image may contain: textLikeShow more reactionsCommentCommentsJay Gittrich

Sue CastnerYesterday at 11:46amFor those concerned about the horrors at Standing Rock and the ongoing DAPL battle...consider a donation through this vehicle harnessing the energy of the 3.8 million Pantsuit Nation members. Who says storytelling doesn't help anyone?"DO ALL THE GOOD YOU CAN."

Click here to support STAND for Standing Rock NO DAPL by Lynne ColombeROUND TWO: Begins 11/10/2016 Ends?�UPDATE 11/26/16 We are dealing with a crisis of many water protectors being moved from the main camp, forcibly. I am…GOFUNDME.COMLikeShow more reactionsCommentShare4 Ray Bradford, Lela Alston and 2 others1 shareCommentsJay Gittrich

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Lisa Johnson BlackhorseYesterday at 11:38amMessage me - if anyone knows who is running for Maricopa County Democratic Party (Dec17) or Arizona Democratic Party (Jan28) Executive Board?LikeShow more reactionsCommentCommentsJay Gittrich

Sheldon DuderstadtNovember 25 at 10:31amBe honest. Did some of you fall for this stuff? Especially you, Charles Anthony Gosmon?http://wapo.st/2ffIKHw:3

Russian propaganda effort helped spread ‘fake news’ during election, experts sayResearchers say sophisticated tools were used to boost Trump and undermine Clinton.WASHINGTONPOST.COMAngryShow more reactionsCommentShare2 You and 1 other1 shareCommentsMartin TrumpMartin Trump I'm just curious how they got to the electors while the clown show distracted the masses? You can't buy 60 million, you can incentivize 30. Nobody was watching.Like · Reply · November 25 at 10:56am · EditedJay Gittrich

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Sheldon DuderstadtNovember 23 at 10:19amPoor babies!

Conservatives bristle as Trump backs off Clinton prosecutionSome of Donald Trump's strongest conservative supporters are voicing anger and disappointment at the president-elect's comments on Tuesday that he might back…REUTERS.COM|BY CURTIS SKINNERLikeShow more reactionsCommentShare3 Barbara Njos and 2 others2 sharesCommentsJay Gittrich

Wisconsin’s gerrymander being struck down should scare Republicans nationwideRepublican gerrymandering efforts could be in for a huge defeat nationwideWASHINGTONPOST.COMLikeShow more reactionsCommentShare7 Barbara Njos and 6 others3 sharesCommentsJay Gittrich

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Sheldon DuderstadtNovember 21 at 3:55pmOh, for crying out loud...

Sanders Supporter Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Being Considered for Trump CabinetDemocratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a high-profile Bernie Sanders supporter during the Democratic primary, is “under serious consideration” for various cabinet positions…ABCNEWS.GO.COM|BY ABC NEWSLikeShow more reactionsCommentShare7 73 sharesCommentsView 18 more commentsLee PowersLee Powers Um, perhaps for the very reason she said in her statement about her meeting with #Drumpf? You know, leaving a vacuum for ISIS to claim for the caliphate and all that. Maybe, just maybe, it might be time to rethink our whole ME policy.Like · Reply · 1 · November 22 at 3:48pm

Christopher Hayes on Twitter“Legendary constitutional law scholar Sandy Levinson just got this in the mail: "You just got your kike ass kicked...Juden Raus!"”TWITTER.COM|BY CHRISTOPHER HAYESAngryShow more reactionsCommentShare8 You and 7 others3 sharesCommentsJay Gittrich

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Lisa Johnson Blackhorse shared OMGFacts's video.November 22 at 7:27amStanding Rock is not the first, that Native Americans have faced and will not be our last. In celebration of Native American Heritage Month. Our struggle continues to be recognized in the land of our ancestors.

Play -1:10UnmuteAdditional Visual SettingsEnter Fullscreen 4,639,330 ViewsOMGFactsLike PageNovember 21 at 3:05pm#NODAPL isn’t the first time Native Americans have had to fight for their rights

Joanna GaluszkaNovember 22 at 8:47amBoycott the companies that support trump. https://docs.google.com/…/1vu0Y0HvadMgG_LN7dF8W7M6…/htmlview#The Official #GrabYourWallet Boycott List of Companies that Do Business with and/or Back the Trump FamilyDOCS.GOOGLE.COMLikeShow more reactionsCommentShare1 12 sharesCommentsJay Gittrich

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Jay GittrichNovember 21 at 9:36pm

Safety Pins Show Support for the VulnerableAmericans are donning the household item amid fears of abuse against minorities, immigrants, women and members of the L.G.B.T. community.NYTIMES.COM|BY VALERIYA SAFRONOVALikeShow more reactionsCommentShare3 Danielle Lee and 2 others2 sharesCommentsIan Arthur WenderIan Arthur Wender Safety Pins are nice, but I think I'll rely on my baseball bat!Like · Reply · November 22 at 5:21amJay Gittrich

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Hello,

I wanted to share this information with you and to anyone who might be interested in volunteering with the Arizona Democratic Party this week.

We are having a Hillary Phone Bank onThursday, August 25 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at our Gilbert Office, which is 538 S Gilbert Road, Suite #106, Gilbert AZ. We will be doing some volunteer recruitment for the East Valley.

We are also canvassing this Saturday at 9:30 AM for LD 25. The location we are meeting at is to be determined.